Compressible Supports for Installation of Shower and Bath Fixtures and Systems and Methods Thereof

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods for installing bases and supports for shower and bathtub fixture components in a level and secure manner. Compressible supports, and templates and fixture bases comprising the compressible supports to aid installation are also contemplated herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compressible support for the installation of a fixture base to a building structure, the compressible support comprising:
 a compressible material configured such that a compressible dimension of the support is reduced to a compressed dimension by applying a compression force to the compressible support, wherein the support expands to at least a portion of the compressible dimension upon relief of the compression force.   
     
     
         2 . The compressible support of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible material is a foam. 
     
     
         3 . The compressible support of  claim 3 , wherein the foam is a non-porous foam. 
     
     
         4 . The compressible support of  claim 3 , wherein the foam is a memory foam. 
     
     
         5 . The compressible support of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive for attaching the compressible support to a membrane layer, a fixture base, or subfloor. 
     
     
         6 . The compressible support of  claim 1 , wherein the compression force has a maximum compression force is in a range from about 0.1 psi to about 100 psi. 
     
     
         7 . The compressible support of  claim 1 , wherein the compressed dimension is in a range from about 60% to 90% of the original height of the support. 
     
     
         8 . The compressible support of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible support is configured to receive a curable foundation material. 
     
     
         9 . The compressible support of  claim 8 , wherein the curable foundation material comprises a concrete, mortar, cement, clay, polymeric resin, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The compressible support of  claim 8 , wherein the compressible support comprises a support cavity to receive the curable foundation material. 
     
     
         11 . The compressible support of  claim 10 , wherein the support cavity extends through the compressible support, from a first surface of the compressible support to an opposite surface of the compressible support. 
     
     
         12 . The compressible support of  claim 10 , wherein the support cavity has a volume in a range from 5 mL to 500 mL. 
     
     
         13 . A fixture base comprising the compressible support of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A fixture base installation system comprising:
 a membrane layer; and   a compressible support comprising a cavity.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the membrane layer comprises a paper layer, a felt layer, a silicon layer, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the membrane layer comprises markings indicating preferred positioning for the compressible support. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system comprises an adhesive to secure the membrane layer to a building structure, an adhesive to secure the compressible support to the membrane layer, or both. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of compressible supports. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a bottom surface of the compressible support is substantially planar; and   a top surface of each compressible support is contoured to complement the bottom surface of a fixture base at a support position.   
     
     
         20 . A method for installing a fixture base to a building structure comprising:
 positioning a compressible support comprising a curable foundation material in contact with the building structure at a first end of the compressible support along a compressible dimension;   positioning the fixture base in contact with the compressible support at a second end of the compressible support along the compressible dimension;   securing the fixture base to the building structure; and   curing the curable foundation material.